D.C. mayor supports releasing police body camera footage

District mayor Muriel Bowser has announced her support for releasing police body camera footage to the public in certain situations. Bowser and Police Chief Cathy Lanier previously rejected the idea of public access to the footage because of privacy issues. The mayor now proposes that the public have access to footage taken in public places and of controversial incidents, such as police shootings. Events that occur on private property and crimes such as sexual assault will not be released without good reason. The mayor also advocates for all officers to have body cameras, instead of only the 400 who have them currently. Bowser will propose her plan in the fall to the D.C. Council and hopes to implement the body cam expansion in January.